by Mrs. Sylvain

Introduction | Task | Process |Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction: Imagine you live in Europe in the fifteenth century. Chances are that from the time of your birth, until you die you would have traveled no more than ten miles from your home. All your needs from the food you ate, the clothes you wore, and tools you needed would have been produced in the town or manor where you were born.

However, things in Europe are about to change and these changes have a profound effect on the history of America. Ships from strange lands begin to dock along European coastal towns. These ships at first bring war, but eventually give way to new and exciting trade opportunities. Towns along the coast begin to grow and a new class of people called merchants begin to ply their trade in these growing communities.

Europeans are excited by the wonders from these new and mysterious lands. They see and feel for the first time muslin, damask, cotton and silk fabrics. They taste lemons, apricots, rice, sugar and garlic. Precious stones, perfume, dyes, medicines and spices also begin to appear in the European market place. To get these new and exciting products, the Europeans need to have something to trade. They begin to work longer and harder to increase the production of their goods beyond the needs of their own towns. Europeans are soon producing woolen fabrics, wine, furs, sulfur, honey and grain to barter for goods that cannot be produced within their own country.

Soon European sailors begin to search out newer and faster routes to the Orient and West Indies. It is this quest that begins a new and exciting age of exploration which will eventually bring the first permanent settlement of white men to America.

 Task: At first, explorers of New World didn't set out to discover new lands. They were searching for faster and safer trade routes. However, they often found something more exciting and more valuable than new trade routes. Think of how they must have felt when they first viewed North American, a seemingly endless span of land.

Using the links listed below, you and your partner will research and complete the worksheet on one explorer. You will present your research findings in a PowerPoint presentation to your classmates.

Internet Resources:

Process:

1.  You and a partner will use the Internet resources to locate information about one explorer.

2.  How did this explorer have an impact or influence on the history of America? Your job is to locate the information to answer the questions on your worksheet.

3. Now it's your turn to the teacher!  Using the information you have collected, create a PowerPoint presentation which will include the following information:

Name of Explorer

Personal Information (Nationality, trade, childhood information-if available, how they became interested in sailing/exploring)

Purpose of Expedition(s) (include who was financing the expedition)

Travel Route(s) (include the date(s) of the expedition)

Results of the Expedition(s) (New trade route, discovery of new land, etc.)

Importance of this Discovery

4. Present your PowerPoint to your classmates.

Evaluation:

Task	Little Evidence	Some Evidence	Achieved the Standard	Exceeded the Standard
Identify and provide details about an early explorer of the new world.	Provides the name of an explorer, but few details.	Identifies and provides 4 facts about an explorer. Some important information is missing.	Identifies and provides all important information about the explorer.	Identifies and provides all important information and additional information that is relevant about the explorer.
Design a PowerPoint Presentation to present your findings to your class.	Attempts to make a PowerPoint Presentation, but does not include formatting, background, animation and lacks much of the essential information.	PowerPoint includes most of the essential elements, but information is not presented in a clear and concise manner in the presentation. Color and sound choices distract the viewer and do not lend themselves to enhancing the presentation.	PowerPoint includes all of the essential elements, and is presented in a clear and concise manner within the presentation. Color and sound choices do not distract from the presentation.	PowerPoint includes all of the essential elements, as well as additional relevant information. Slide show is presented in a clear and concise manner and color and sound choices enhance the presentation.
Present your PowerPoint Presentation to your class.	Presentation is made with little or no enthusiasm. No further details are provided in the narration of the slide show. Few of the technical aspects of the slide show work.	Presentation is made with some enthusiasm. Some details are provided in the narration of the slide show. Most of the technical aspects of the slide show work.	Presentation is made with enthusiasm. Details are provided in the narration of the slide show to further the viewer's understanding of your subject. All of the technical aspects of the slide show work.	Presentation is made with enthusiasm. Many additional details are provided in the narration of the slide show to further the viewer's understanding of your subject. All of the technical aspects of the slide show not only work, but enhance the viewer's overall enjoyment of the presentation.

Conclusion:

In this WebQuest you have learned how early explorers have played an important role in the discovery and expansion of the New World. You have also learned how these brave and stalwart men ventured far from home with little idea of what they would find across the ocean.

You have also created a PowerPoint Presentation that you have shared with your classmates, researching the Internet to find out information about explorers. and most importantly you have explained to your classmates why these explorers so important to the history of America.